Horningsea

The gallery at Horningsea sits in a quiet village just east of Cambridge, and it's the sort of place you stumble upon rather than plan for. It's a working artist's space where you can actually watch people creating - paintings, prints, ceramics - rather than just staring at finished work behind glass. The atmosphere is refreshingly low-key; there's none of that hushed, intimidating gallery feel.

You'll get the most from a visit if you're into contemporary art or curious about the creative process. Kids might fidget after twenty minutes unless they're genuinely interested in watching someone paint. Expect to spend an hour at most, longer if you get talking to the artists themselves, which is very much encouraged.

What makes it work as part of a Cambridge-area holiday is the location. Horningsea itself is small and rural - proper fenland - so combine it with a morning in Cambridge and an afternoon here, or use it as a gentle alternative if you've had your fill of the city's bigger attractions. It's the kind of place that feels like a local discovery rather than a tourist tick-off.

If you're camping nearby at Chittering Park or Fen End Farm, Horningsea gives you something to do that doesn't involve heading back into town. Park up in the village and take a walk round the fens afterwards. It won't blow your mind, but it's well worth an hour if you're in the area.